HAMILTON – Colgate was picked first in the Patriot League preseason poll and junior outside hitter
Abby Shadwick landed on the 2023 Preseason All-Patriot League team on Thursday.
The Raiders claimed 14 of the 18 first-place votes and edged Army for the preseason top spot with 126 points. The Black Knights received 124 points with two first-place votes, while Navy rounded out the top three with 98 points and two first-place tallies.
Shadwick garnered All-Patriot League First Team honors after leading the team in kills (315) and kills per set (3.09) during her breakout sophomore campaign. She returns for her junior season after posting a .262 hitting percentage on a team-high 865 attempts.
The Lexington, Ky., native and three-time Patriot League Player of the Week posted double-digit kills in 21 matches and registered eight double-doubles last season. She led the team with 11 kills in the NCAA tournament battle against Pittsburgh last December.
Colgate is coming off its second consecutive Patriot League championship under 18th-year head coach and reigning Patriot League Coach of the Year Ryan Baker. The Raiders knocked off Navy in a five-set thriller to secure the title last November at Cotterell Court.
The defending champions open their 2023 season Aug. 25 against Central Arkansas for the first of three matches in the Mizzou Classic hosted by Missouri.
2023 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year: Zeynep Uzen, American, Gr., OH
2023 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Libero of the Year: Jordan Hardy, Bucknell, Jr., L
2023 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Setter of the Year: Avery Miller, Navy, Sr., S
2023 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason All-League Team
Zeynep Uzen, American, Gr., OH
Paige Fixemer, Army West Point, Sr., MB
Abby Shadwick, Colgate, Jr., OH
Lauren Link, Loyola Maryland, Sr., OH
Maggie Bodman, Navy, Sr., MB
Jordan Llewellyn, Navy, Sr., OH
Averi Miller, Navy, Sr., S
2023 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll
Colgate – 126 (14 first-place votes)
Army West Point – 124 (2)
Navy – 98 (2)
American – 78
Bucknell – 68
Loyola Maryland – 67
Lehigh – 41
Lafayette – 30
Holy Cross – 16
